most valuable baseball cards 1990s

They also created a subset for him as a tribute to his legendary career that spanned across his time with the Mets, Angels, Astros and Rangers which we'll get to a bit later on this list. That said, the condition-sensitive nature of the 1994 SP set's foil design makes high-grade versions difficult to find and therefore valuable. That was Walkers last year with the team. The Most Valuable 1990s Baseball Cards: Summary, As well as rarity due to the small release, (estimated to be between 6,000 and 7,500), the majority had to get to an active war zone and back before being encased by the likes of, (Okay, we said that you wont find any of these cards hidden down the back of the couch, but this is the exception!). Alex Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star, and one of the greatest of all time when youre looking at stats alone. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Griffey was one of the most popular players of the era and his cards were always in high demand. The 1997 Bowman set was one of the most popular of the late 1990s. There are clues that will help you tell which was an original dual and which was signed by Griffey after the fact, so be sure to check it out. The next couple seasons were lean, though, as Sammy struggled for playing time, especially after a 1992 trade to the Cubs. Still known as David Arias when his rookie cards were printed, it wasn't until he made his MLB debut late in the 1997 season that he informed the Twins that he preferred David Ortiz. . Choosing between this card or number 3 on the list, the Lebron James refractor, I would choose the Lebron card over the Zion. The back of the card references his hitting ability that he displayed in high school but also makes reference to him being though of as the next Mario Lemieux. And, while this one may not inspire thoughts of grandeur, its good to see The Man of Steal back where he began and where hed set a slew of records over the next several seasons. 23,119. Most Expensive [1990 Fleer Canadian] Baseball Cards 10 Most Valuable Basketball Cards of the 1990s - Antique Mall For all that, Grissom falls short of Cooperstown standards, but his RC is still nothing to sneeze at. In todays market, a mint 1991 Chipper Jones could be worth somewhere around the $5k mark. Are you ready for a stat thatll probably make you sick to your stomach? The price for a piece of Americas pastime keeps going up. This was Henderons first Topps base card after he returned to the As in a midseason trade with the Yankees. 1991 CHIPPER JONES UPPER DECK TOP PROSPECT ROOKIE BASEBALL CARD MLB BRAVES. Guide to Valuable 1990's Sports Cards - The Cardboard Connection 10 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990s - Gold Card Auctions In this case, its just a couple hunks of the black links surrounding the name box and not the name itself that are missing. In fact, its so sensitive to chipping and wear that a combination of the design and packaging caused many copies to grade less than PSA Mint 9, even when pulled straight from the pack. It was graded NM 7 by the PSA, which is not as impressive as later cards on this list but still high. The fact that there are only two of them has helped increase demand, with the 1995 Bowman and 1995 Bowman's Best sets containing his only rookies. Recommended Reading: Baseball Practice Plans For 10 Year Olds. If you continue to use this site, we'll assume you're OK with that. It was sold at an auction in 1966. And, by default, its O-Pee-Chee cousin is also an incredibly desirable baseball card though it is much more difficult to find in top condition. Jones had a great career with the Atlanta Braves and was a key figure in their success during the 90s. Before we get started, I do want to make it clear that most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days. He kept racking up All-Star appearances, too, which led to this card. During the 1990s, Griffey Jr. was one of the hottest stars in the sport and seemed destined to break all kinds of records. Griffeys rookie card from 1988 is worth an estimated $2 million, according to Sports Illustrated. The 1990 Topps baseball card set went to great lengths to pay tribute to Nolan Ryan's achievement of surpassing the 5,000 career strikeout mark. Let's say you did some baseball card collecting during the 1990s, and now you're revisiting your old collection and wondering if anything you have is valuable. Unlike many of the others on this list, its somewhat underpriced considering the above and could make for a good investment piece. By 1990, Cal Ripken Jr. was starting to take flak for continuing The Streak in spite of slipping performance at the plate. What seemed to start out as a sort of cheap attempted knockoff of the classic 1975 Topps set actually has some character of its own. Cards number 2-5 tell the story of Nolan Ryan's career with the Mets, Angels, Astros and Rangers up to that point in time. Naturally, his rookie cards were hot tamales. Frank Thomas is no John Littlefield, after all. This one is scarce enough that pics are tough to come by, though PSA has a few on its Auction Prices Realized tool for this set. So, in order for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll either have to be the Tiffany version (Topps' premium factory set) and/or be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. Nothing huge, though, as its really just a printing mistake. And then there is the photography, which is pretty sharp in some cases. His only rookie cards are in the 1995 Bowman and Bowman's Best sets, as Bowman Chrome would not be introduced until two years later. That earned Bo his first (and only) All-Star appearance and even some down-ballot MVP votes. Mostly, though, it was just a steady climb to 2200+ career hits, pulling his rookie card along with him. Some of the Mantle-only autos were pulled, then later signed by Griffey. By the end of the season, Justice had smashed 28 home runs, driven in 78 runs, scored 76 of his own, and hit a solid .282. Serial numbered to just 99, its extremely fragile, while the shiny border is especially susceptible to chips and will highlight any blemishes. A rundown of the most expensive 1990 Fleer Baseball cards sold on eBay in February 2023.See the most recent eBay top sellers of 1990 Fleer Baseball cards her. The "Topps All-Star Rookie" trophy symbol made this one stand out a bit more from other cards in this set, too. While batting .318 with 32 home runs, 104 runs scored, and 109 RBI, Thomas also led the league in walks (138), OBP (.453), and OPS (1.006), helping to launch his reputation as a disciplined and well-rounded hitter. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. The green background makes any flaws or cornering issues easier to detect, which is why finding a mint condition copy of this card is difficult. So, while this 1990 Score card is not a . As such, it was never corrected because there wasnt really anything to correct. But there were few sluggers as feared as Juan Gone through most of the 1990s, and he won two American League MVP awards with Texas, in 1996 and 1998. For many in the hobby, we have a shorthand when a young player starts hitting home runs at a rapid rate. In 1989, Bo Jackson reached career highs in games played (135), home runs (32), and RBI (105), and he also stole 26 bases for the Kansas City Royals. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Topps listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 1990 Topps Baseball Cards 25 Most Valuable Plus Bonus Listings! Ken Griffey Jr. is back again, in one of the most important sets from the 1990s. This second hunk of the Ryan recap shows him with the California Angels, the team for whom he burned down American League hitters like toothpicks in a cremation furnace for nearly a decade. Much of the attention is due to the fact that Jordans, RC is extremely valuable, while prices of all MJ cards have increased rapidly following the release of. The clean design, upscale look, bright photo not to mention the fact we pretty much all had at least one make it one of the most memorable 1990 cards still today, even if it comes with a cautionary tale. He primarily played for the Dodgers and Mets and was an All-Star 12 times between 1993 and 2005. For example, PSA 10 copies of his 1991 Upper Deck were selling for roughly $40 in 2017, but they now go for almost 10 times that amount. 1990 Frank Thomas Topps NAME ON FRONT ROOKIE RC #414 White Sox PSA 8 NM/MINT. It turns out there was. At his peak, ungraded versions of his 1994 SP rookie card regularly sold for hundreds of dollars, though his eventual PED suspension and subsequent fall from grace took a significant bite out of their value. I've always liked the look of these cards, and as a kid, I loved ripping packs in search of rookies and star players. Griffey Jr. is casually jogging across a leaf-green background like the legend that he is. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. A PSA 10 gem mint condition version of his 1997 Fleer Ultra Platinum card sold at auction for $4,238. Alright, lets play ball, 1990 Topps style! We all know of his association with the PED controversy. Although back problems hampered him during the 1990 season, Jose Canseco still managed to blast home runs at one of the highest rates of his career as he would belt 37 in just 481 at-bats. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top ten: You did not read that first price incorrectly. The fact is, Belle was one of the most consistently productive hitters of the 1990s as he hit no fewer than 28 home runs and drove in no fewer than 95 runs from 1991 to 1999. 1990: The 20 Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr Baseball Cards! His greatness began to show in earnest that summer, though, as he led the Pirates to a division title and won his first National League MVP award. You May Like: Nike Dri Fit Baseball Shirts. He was consistently productive although he did have some seasons here and there shortened by injury. This gem mint card sold at auction with 51 bids for $35,087. Not surprisingly, Thomas 1991 breakout (.318, 32 home runs, 109 RBI, 104 runs) sent us all scrambling to find his 1990 rookie cards, and theyve been hobby royalty ever since. And, after a brief September call-up, there was at least a chance Juan Gonzalez would be doing his mashing in the bigs in 1990. Its perhaps one of the most valuable cards of the 90s and definitely, one to be kept as its value is likely to continue to soar. The 1997 Skybox E-X2000 Essential Credentials was ahead of its time in many respects, with a small serial number, an iconic image selection, and a luxurious border design. I wont get into it here, and theres a great article on PWCC that dives deeper that was just written this past June, and offering this nugget: The pack pulled, dual Mantle and Griffey auto is one of the most desirable dual auto pack pulled cards ever. But, Belle wasnt exactly known for playing cleanly either, although he was more known for using corked bats instead of PEDs. Chipper Jones won a World Series and made eight All-Star appearances for the Atlanta Braves in a storied career. However, injuries would catch up to him, and even though he still had a top-notch glove on defense and could still hit for average, his power wasn't nearly what it used to be. Would anyone be interested in buying my Sports Card Collection. So, just how costly are the most sought-after baseball cards? The most expensive baseball card in history just sold for $12.6 million. Where had this guy been all our lives? Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, 1987 Topps Baseball Cards The Ultimate Guide, 1990 Topps Baseball Cards The Ultimate Guide. Wax Pack Gods, 100 Most Expensive Magic The Gathering Cards Sold on eBay in the Last 30 Days, 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Cards 28 Most Valuable Wax Pack Gods. That showing came with a massive power outage that would last most of the rest of Pucks career, but he remained a smiling catalyst as the Twins won their second World Series in five years in 1991. Unfortunately, it didnt quite work out and it wasnt long before he was back crushing the NBA. The problem is, that the first half of the 1990s was marred by the junk wax era, which is considered to have lasted from 1987 to 1994. You May Like: Best Walk Up Songs Baseball. Dont Miss: Baseball Cross Necklace For Men. Sports Card Investing: Maximize Portfolio Returns (Ultimate Guide), 10 Best Football Card Packs to Buy in 2023, In-Depth Sports Card Market Trends and Statistics (2023). No one knew it at the time, but this would be the last time Dale Murphy ever appeared in a Braves uniform on a regular-issue Topps base set as an active player. Hed never get a World Series ring but during the mid to late 80s, he was one of the sports best players and his cards were on fire in the hobby as a result. The cheapest Jordan rookie by a significant margin, its a chance for collectors to own a bona fide piece of sporting history, even if the cards are slightly overpriced due to the latest influx of MJ fans and hype around his RC options. He also set a personal best for stolen bases (52) while leading the league in slugging percentage (.565) and OPS (.970). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This is one such example of one of the decades rarer cards. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. That 5000th strikeout that Ryan recorded in 1989 did wonders for his hobby profile, beginning right at the front of the 1990 Topps set. Don Mattingly's career was almost a tale of two decades. Members of the millennial generation will remember the 90s with fondness and as a decade of massive cultural importance. Bush money, but its still a decent payout for a 90s baseball card! Another rare card with two of the best players to grace the field, this 1994. Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - YouTube Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? The company's chairman, Arthur Shorin, even presented some of them in a binder to the former president in 1989. Even if you werent born at the time, youve probably watched The Last Dance and know something about Michael Jordans hiatus from the Chicago Bulls in the early 90s. But Mickey Mantle? The Uribe error thats caused so much ruckus over the last couple of years is the 1990 Fleer same situation, and there is nothing special about that card. Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top ten: 1990 Score #697 Bo Jackson Estimated PSA 10 Value: $70 Check Prices On: Amazon This card is arguably one of the most iconic cards of the "junk" era. A vast improvement over previous Bowman releases, the set has held its value better than most of its contemporaries thanks largely to the fact that it was printed to dealer order, meaning a much lower print run than the rest of the market that year. I think it was a great way to salute Ryan and these cards remain one of my favorite subsets of all-time from any set. He went on to rack up 541 home runs, 1,769 RBI and three World Series rings on his way to first-ballot Hall of Famer status. His 1990 Topps rookie card has held up over the years with decent value. And, voila! Despite not making his major league debut until June 29, Kevin Maas still managed to hit 21 home runs for the Yankees in his rookie season. This card from 1992, showing Piazza in a crowded catchers stance, is worth a fair amount of money within collectors circles, often going between $200 and $300. With six straight All-Star appearances and one MVP during the 1980s, Mattingly seemed to be on a clear path towards the Hall of Fame. Cards 258. In spite of the steroid allegations, Rodriguezs RC was always going to be high on any list of the most valuable 90s cards. Even now, decades after his retirement and years after he fell off the Hall of Fame ballot, Mattingly still carries plenty of weight in the hobby he helped build. An example that Beckett graded a 10 sold on Goldin for $57,600, giving it the top spot in this athletes card series. Fast forward a year and a half, though, and Thomas was one of the best hitters in baseball, well on his way to becoming the Big Hurt and, ultimately, a Cooperstown denizen. Unfortunately, injuries really bogged him down in the 2000s but he still managed to put up monster career numbers. launch monetization_on $4.99 08/28/2022. Read our methodology. It all solidified Cal as an ironclad collector favorite, and we still love him today. Right, but where were his *Detroit* cards? Sammy Sosa entered 1990 with designs on a starting job for the first time in his big league career, thanks to a midseason trade in 1989 from the Rangers to the White Sox. Occasionally, hed pop something really gaudy, like that Ty Cobb-esque .363 batting title in 1993. Juan Gonzalez kind of got lost in the shuffle of the home run barrage during the late 1990s and the early 2000s, and especially because he sort of flamed out in his early-to-mid 30s. I mean, wow. His other high . It was an underwhelming season for the team overall and Ripkens numbers werent the greatest either as he batted just .250 with 21 home runs, 84 RBI, and 78 runs scored. Valuable Baseball Cards 1990's - BaseballLoveClub.com Hes widely regarded as one of the best baseball players to come from the Dominican Republic and was a great all-round athlete who had a long-spanning career. It was a blistering campaign that launched the young superstars career into the stratosphere. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. Puckett remains a collector favorite today, earning this card showing the man in his prime a slot on our list. He was one of my favorite players to watch growing up as the guy could do it all. But, Donruss had a tribute of their own, albeit less flashy. Like the 1990 Donruss,Fleer, Leaf, Score, Bowman and Upper Deck sets, far too many of them were printed and the market is over-saturated with them. Things were about the same (or worse) for Iron Cal in 1990, and his critics put the blame firmly on The Streak. As it turned out, 1989 would be the last summer when hed top 20 dingers (23), but fans and collectors still held out hope. Now, if that last sentence up there and that Donruss rookie card look a bit. Crisp and clean, there cant be many collectors out there that would turn down a 1996 Leaf Jeter. This card was produced for US servicemen and women serving in Operation Desert Storm so imaginably, there arent many out there and even less in mint condition. In addition to anointing him with the first card in their new set to celebrate that unheard-of milestone, Topps also ran the Ryan Express through the next four numbers on their checklist, offering a unique career retrospective. Very few of them exist with both athletes signatures and even fewer in this condition, making this card almost certainly a one-of-a-kind treasure. Robb Report. This time hes on his own, but its still a great option even without the help of Mickey Mantle. We use cookies to improve your experience. What follows, then, are the most valuable 1990 Topps baseball cards plus the most valuable 1990 Topps Traded baseball cards PLUS a few surprises, as judged by actual selling prices for copies graded PSA 9. 1990 Classic card list & price guide. And together with a great action shot of Griffey showing off his sweet swing, that color scheme makes this one of the best-looking cards in the set. With six straight All-Star appearances and one MVP during the 1980s, Mattingly seemed to be on a clear path towards the Hall of Fame. Its the 24k gold foil overlay that really makes this card stand out. The card is key for three main reasons: Required fields are marked *, Chipper Jones (1991 Toppers Desert Shield RC #333), Ken Griffey Jr. (1993 Finest Refractor #110), Ken Griffey Jr. & Mickey Mantle (1994 Upper Deck #MM1), Roy Halladay (1997 Bowman Chrome International Refractor #212), Adrian Beltre (1997 Bowman Chrome International Refractor #182), David Ortiz (1997 Fleer Ultra Platinum Medallion #P518). Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, . In 1994-95, baseball was rocked by a player strike which massively ate into the season resulting in a blow to the games public image. Like the Griffey card on this list, this may not be the most exciting card in the world. The eBay scam sort of stuck, unfortunately, and some folks are still paying a premium for a card thats just a common. In 2015, a PSA 10 copy would sell for roughly $30,000. Each card is lenticular. The era was ended by the baseball players strike of 1994, and the hobby has never truly recovered in terms of national attention. Theres something for every budget, and thats only going to be good news for collectors. Juan Gonzalez was already a solid prospect heading into the 1989 season, and his 21 home runs with Double-A Tulsa at just 19 years of age put him on the hobby radar. Neon Deion Sanders was a hobby phenom right from the start thanks to his electric talent in both football and baseball. One of the most important cards of the post-WWII era, ushering in a new, premium brand into the baseball card aisles and leading off that ground-breaking set with the Rookie Card of. To honor President Bush, Topps printed 100 or so of these with a picture of him during his college days in his Yale uniform. He led the Bulls to three more NBA titles after his stint with the White Sox, dominating the league with wins in 1996, 1997 and 1998. He is also currently leading in assists above Luka. And then there are some pretty interesting subjects, from draft picks to error cards to scads of Nolan Ryans. I feel for the investment, the Lebron card is a less risky buy. Jeters card is white with silver trim and features an action shot of the player in his Yankees uniform. 1. The only Leaf card to make the list, their 1996 set is one of the best the company ever released. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. To other top rated players. Of course, it was just the beginning of a Hall of Fame run for Mad Dog, and within a few years, when he was stringing together CYAs for the Braves, we were stockpiling ALL his cards including this nifty color-coordinated Cubbies deal. 10 Overlooked 1990s Baseball Card Sets Worth Revisiting - Beckett News Of course, even the stoutest of the 90s will likely never rattle any bank accounts, not on the whole, and not to the extent that some of the hobbys big hitters do and will. But theres still a certain cynicism among many when we hear about a rookie being the next big thing. After all, the strapping young lad looked more like a linebacker than a first baseman, and we didnt have the sort of 24-7 access to baseball information and images back in those pre-internet days. At one time, this 1990 rookie card sat near the top of the new-card mountain and still pulls decent collector interest today. The 1990s were a strange time to be a baseball card collector. 15 Most Valuable Basketball Cards 1990s (Round-up list) Sports Cards: 10 Most Valuable Baseball Rookie Cards of the 1990s Needless to say, his 1990 rookie cards sort of got lost in the glare of guys with more hyper surrounding them until he started mashing, that is. Entering 1990, Barry Bonds was still mostly potential, flashing consistent tools across the board but never completely wowing in any one area of the game. The former president was presented with one hundred copies of his very own baseball card from his days as captain at Yale in 1990 by Topps. 1990 Upper Deck Baseball Memories and Baseball Card Breakdown If youve got an old box of cards lying around somewhere, its got to be time to dust it off and take a look to see if theres a 93 Derek Jeter hidden amongst your collection. The action shot features a young Jeter primed to make a catch, with the player superimposed over the holofoil. As well as Derek Jeter, players like Alex Rodriguez, Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa also signed cards in the Signature Series Extended Autographs Century Marks set. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. The initial production run containing the error becomes scarce, driving up its value. Big Mac batted just .214 with zero home runs and zero RBI, while fellow Bash Brother Jose Canseco didnt fare much better. Also Check: National League Standings For Baseball. It took him just 133 at bats to reach #15. . Has there ever been a bigger revelation in the course of one baseball season than what Cecil Fielder wrought in 1990? With a well-rounded offense led by the heavy-hitting Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, the As had no problem putting runs on the board all season long. Its a unique card due to its style it contains an artistic portrait of two baseball legends with autographs and is printed in landscape orientation. Beltre is viewedas a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer when he is eligible for the first time in 2024, andthis is a card that still has some room to grow in value. But going back to the Mantle-only auto cardwhats stopping anyone from getting Griffey to sign after the fact, thus turning a pack-pulled Mantle auto into one that resembles the daul? In 2020 a PSA 10 edition of this card sold for an astonishing $180,000. 1990 Topps Baseball Cards - 25 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods Ryno took his power game to a whole new level in 1990, though, leading the NL with 40 homers and cementing cards like his base Topps issue as pack-winners that summer. So there you have it, the ten most valuable 1990 Topps cards. The No. This PSA 7.5 NM+ card is currently selling for $5,500 on eBay, so that gives you an idea as to just how expensive these babies can be. The internet was still in its infancy and not as widely used or trusted as it is today. But, because of Bonds popularity and legacy, it still holds decent value in top grade. While currently ranked as the 5th most valuable baseball card, when Trouts 2009 Bowman Chrome Superfractors autographed card serial-numbered 1/1 sold in August 2020, it became the most valuable baseball card in the hobby. Unfortunately, the 1990 season would be Jackson's last full season in baseball as a devastating hip injury during a football game in 1991 prevented him from ever playing at his All-Star level again. Youre likely to find these cards selling in a large price range depending on quality, but a pristine one might fetch up to $2000. There are a lot of Adrian Beltre cards out there but this one from 97 is for sure the most valuable. The GOAT took some time away from basketball to chase his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. The most expensive baseball cards of the 1990s were released by Ken Griffey Jr. Sandberg reached 30 home runs (exactly) for the first time in 1989 as he helped the Cubs win their second division title, and first since 1984. The . Surprisingly, there are valuable cards from almost every year to look out for, including before, during, and after the junk wax era. Added to that, there are presidential artifact collectors who also drive up the price for it. That means the card needs to be basically flawless. Just in case that came to pass, Donruss was ready, anointing the young lefty swinger as a Rated Rookie in their bloody 1990 set . The New York Yankees signed 20-year-old Mariano Rivera out of Panama on Feb. 17, 1990, and he allowed just 17 hits and one earned run with 58 strikeouts in 52 innings in his pro debut at the rookie ball level later that year. Basketball legend Michael Jordans ill-fated attempt to become a baseball star is generally meme-worthy, but his RC from 1991 is still one of the better cards from the decade. In the current market, Jordan cards from 91 are worth anything up to $400.